New York Red Bulls announce partnership with Westchester Youth Soccer League

HARRISON, N.J. (April 8, 2015) – The New York Red Bulls are proud to announce a three-year player development partnership with Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). The organizations have agreed to co-create the WYSL-Red Bulls Select program, which will create a pathway for WYSL’s most competitive players, from ages of 9 to 12 years, into the Red Bulls Academy.

The program will provide WYSL’s more than 45 member clubs the opportunity to send its best players to train in the WYSL-Red Bulls Select program. The partnership will provide a connection between WYSL, which serves more than 20,000 local players, and New York Red Bull Youth Programs.

"The WYSL is proud to be joining with The Red Bulls to offer our aspiring players a truly outstanding League Select Program,” said WYSL president Julian DiDonato. “The Red Bulls have long been recognized as a leader in the development of young soccer players and this affiliation brings together two organizations that share similar core values and a common mission; providing their players the most cutting edge soccer training and education side by side with advancing their personal development both on and off the field."

The program, accessible by tryout, will operate in the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. Selected players will take part in weekly training programs. During the winter, players will wear Red Bulls kits and compete in local indoor tournaments. The program, located centrally in Westchester County, provides an easily accessible training hub.

“The Red Bulls are excited to partner with an organization that is dedicated to supporting youth soccer players and coaches,” said David Jervis, Director of training programs. “We hope to build a partnership that not only helps develop the league’s best players, but also inspires children to enjoy the many benefits of playing soccer. Through this partnership, we hope to have a positive impact on youth soccer players throughout Westchester County and the greater Metro New York area.”

By partnering with one of the largest youth leagues in the New York Metropolitan area, the Red Bulls’ youth programs continue to build on its strong grassroots efforts and commitment to local player development and community outreach.

Westchester Youth Soccer League

The Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) was established in 1977 as a non-profit, educational organization affiliated with U.S. Club Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation. The mission of the league is to foster the physical, mental and emotional character development of youth by providing a safe, organized, fair and competitive game playing opportunities for our players. WYSL registers more than 20,000 players under the age of 19. The league has more than 45 member clubs. Visit http://www.wyslsoccer.org/ for more information.

New York Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls are one of 20 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its founding in 1996. They currently play their home matches at Red Bull Arena (RBA) in Harrison, New Jersey. RBA, a state-of-the-art 25,000-seat stadium, is widely regarded as the top soccer-specific stadium in North America. The club is owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull for which the team is named

About the New York Red Bulls Player Development System

The New York Red Bulls maintain one of the premier youth development programs in the United States, committed to identifying and developing talent in the tri-state area. The Red Bulls Player Development System is a multi-layered program that provides professional support at all levels of the game. Each level of the player development pyramid has been structured to provide the best development opportunities to players, coaches and youth soccer organizations. Within the local community, programs are offered for players of all ages and abilities. For players with outstanding ability, there is an opportunity to progress from the grassroots Training Programs to the Regional Development School, then on to the Academy Teams and, ultimately, to the Red Bulls professional team. Red Bulls Academy teams are consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation. Red Bulls players make regular appearances in U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams and NCAA Division I programs. For more information about Red Bulls Academy and training programs, visit www.redbullsacademy.com/.